Hillary Clinton: Brexit could be ‘greatest self-inflicted wound in modern history’

The U.K.'s exit from the European Union "may well go down as one of the greatest and most unnecessary self-inflicted wounds in modern history," former U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said during a trip to Belfast.

"I make no excuse for being against Brexit from the start," Clinton said during a visit to Northern Ireland late Wednesday, adding she "thought it was a bad idea before the referendum, and I think it is an even worse idea now."

Speaking to an audience at Queen’s University, where she received an honorary degree for her "considerable contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process," Clinton added: "Brexit seems to be going ahead one way or the other. It is crucial that however it comes out, Brexit should not be allowed to undermine the peace and prosperity that has been so dearly won here."

Clinton said she came to the region "as a friend who knows how hard the struggle has been." She and her husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, played a prominent role in persuading Northern Ireland to make the compromises that ultimately led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

With reference to the current Irish border impasse in the Brexit negotiations, Clinton said she thought the best sustainable solution was in protecting the Good Friday Agreement and additionally working with an interim executive to preserve its benefits, the Guardian reported.

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Henk Halstenrud

A rerun of Politico’s old story first published over a year ago. Yawn. Hillary Who?
I did NOT have sex with that woman either !

Posted on 10/11/18 | 1:36 PM CET

Dr Orthogonal

Hilary Clinton was a bad idea before the US election and is an even worse idea now

Posted on 10/11/18 | 1:47 PM CET

Alan Ritchie

Bit like the ‘basket of deplorables’?

Passed Queens last night, saw a few people hanging about, in retrospect possibly watching/protesting the procession into the Lanyon Building, but to be honest I doubt that anyone outside a very small circle knew/cared that Clinton was there.

Posted on 10/11/18 | 2:28 PM CET

Peter Monta

She was right of course. The qualifier May is neccessary because of, well Trump.

Posted on 10/11/18 | 2:43 PM CET

Craig Lamont

Sticking with a husband who sticks his dick into interns isn’t exactly a good idea either.
If her party had chosen ANYONE other than her to run against Trump, he would be back on reality TV right now instead of POTUS.

Posted on 10/11/18 | 3:18 PM CET

Capt Europe

#Hillary4thechair2020

Fry her up!

Posted on 10/11/18 | 3:23 PM CET

Peter Monta

So if I understand your political theory Craig voters blame women for their husband’s infidelities. But have no problem electing a serial adulterer who has affairs with porn stars and pays them to keep quiet? Oh, and grabs pussies whenever he thinks he can get away with it? Interesting theory. Could you explain how sheep’s bladders can be used to predict earthquakes too?

Posted on 10/11/18 | 3:39 PM CET

Ghost of JB

On the basis that the USA picked Trump over Hillary, I suppose we could say that she was one near miss for the title ‘greatest self-inflicted wound in modern history’…

Posted on 10/11/18 | 3:46 PM CET

Donal O'Brien

Att Comment

Dear Comment

We came
We saw
We Killed

But

To feel the breeze
To view the sky
To smell the scent

It’s what life brings

END’S

Repent

Cheers for Brexit
Allways
Donal O’Brien

Posted on 10/11/18 | 4:05 PM CET

Tom Cullem

Really? How does it stack up next to your husband signing without a murmur the suspension of the Glass-Steagall Act, which removed the barriers between holding and investment banks, and set up the Wall Street culture that brought about the crash of 2008, costing Middle America a fortune in bailout money, and left Wall Street in strong possession of the same way of doing business that they set up with the fall of Glass-Steagall?

Of course, as you yourself admitted, you have rather lost touch with hoi polloi from your years of rich living – you can’t even drive any longer because you’ve spent the last 25 years in the backs of chauffeured limousines.

Small wonder you’re against BREXIT – you’re the American equivalent of all the London luvvies living in Hampstead and Primrose Hill drinking £6 lattes.

EU doublestandards

Tell you what Hilary – the day the US forms a Super-Federated state with Canada and Mexico, then you can wax lyrical about your globalist concerns. Until then, maybe just keep quiet about situations your own American citizens would never tolerate, hmm?

Posted on 10/11/18 | 5:53 PM CET

Ian Beaumont

Tom Cullem,
Agreed, The signing of the suspension of the Glass-Steagall Act, was to guarantee future funding for their election campaigns. American, or any other citizens didn’t matter, it was all about trying to keep hold of power.

Brexit has shown to the ruling classes, and their financial supporters, that without the support of the little guys (normal citizens), their power is just an illusion.

Hillary is just one of the elitists fighting back against much needed changes that will have to change their perception that they can do whatever they like, and us citizens will just have to endure the consequences .

Posted on 10/11/18 | 5:58 PM CET

florin silberman

@ Peter Monta,
“…May is neccessary because of, well Trump…”
Trump was is necessary because of, well Hillary.

Posted on 10/11/18 | 7:16 PM CET

Little Fauntleroy

Who?

Posted on 10/11/18 | 7:43 PM CET

Donal O'Brien

Att Comment

Tom Cullen
Well said

Glass Steagall Act
Your so Right

No Shame Tom
They wouldn’t know it’s Colour

Cheers for Brexit
Allways
Donal O’Brien

Posted on 10/11/18 | 7:47 PM CET

Ageing Andrew

Come on Hilary, show us the hidden emails, what else was on the email server?.

Posted on 10/11/18 | 8:08 PM CET

glasspix 1

The second ‘greatest self-inflicted wound in modern history’ was then for Haiti to agree to the Clinton Foundation distributing the post quake aid money. Still in ruins, just like Hillary since loosing the elections.

Posted on 10/11/18 | 8:34 PM CET

Jo Docus

Sure, Brexit is pure idiocy, and harmful to bystanders as well as the actual self-harming party.

But still … it’s an opportunity to make a dent in London’s position as the EU’s financial centre and see substantial branch offices being opened on the continent, it may well induce manufacturers like Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Airbus, Rolls Royce, Daimler etc. to relocate their plants to the mainland, it got the EMA from London to Amsterdam, the expected recession may well shrivel Britain’s climate for start-ups (who might try their luck in e.g. Berlin or Amsterdam), it may make UK universities less attractive for PhD students and young researchers (funding shortages plus less accessible). With any luck it will result in the UK being tied to the EU without having any more say in the course we set.

Our sales (cars, machinery, chemicals) will take a hit, but the more expensive items also have lower price elasticities so that there’s every chance their sales won’t suffer all that much.

In addition, Brexit makes for a terrific experiment in applied economics, (as in: what is the financial value of being in the EU, are there any obvious trade deals that the EU can copy, and can a West-European country do better outside the EU than inside) from which we’ll get all the data at a limited and relatively modest price.

And last but not least, there is the possibility that we’ll see a meek, humble and impoverished UK asking for readmission in five to ten years time.

It’s an ill wind that blows no good. I for one am prepared to roll the dice.

Posted on 10/11/18 | 8:41 PM CET

Merkel das Liar²

Merkel, the Liar and the person responsible for Brexit !

Posted on 10/11/18 | 8:50 PM CET

Merkel das Liar²

Why do German business’s turn and appeal to Theresa May for help?
Does Mutti not liste any more?

Posted on 10/11/18 | 8:52 PM CET

Dr Orthogonal

I think not Hillary. You’re forgetting the US civil war that cost the lives of over 600,000 soldiers. But maybe you have airbrushed that event out of your mind because history shows that the Democrats were on the “wrong” side of the argument, supporting the slave owners.
Of course the effects of Brexit will be minuscule compared to the damage caused by the US civil war. Not even a pinprick in comparison. But if you ask Americans now (with the exception of a few nutty folk in long white pointy hats), they all think that it was worth doing.

Posted on 10/12/18 | 9:46 AM CET

Little Fauntleroy

“it’s an opportunity to make a dent in London’s position as the EU’s financial centre and see substantial branch offices being opened on the continent, it may well induce manufacturers like Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Airbus, Rolls Royce, Daimler etc. to relocate their plants to the mainland, it got the EMA from London to Amsterdam, the expected recession may well shrivel Britain’s climate for start-ups (who might try their luck in e.g. Berlin or Amsterdam), it may make UK universities less attractive for PhD students and young researchers (funding shortages plus less accessible).”

Yup still waiting for any of this to happen. 6 months. Oh wait it’s not is it..

Posted on 10/12/18 | 2:49 PM CET

Little Fauntleroy

Also the UK isn’t the EU’s financial centre it is *THE GLOBAL* financial centre and good luck moving it given it’s all infra based.

Posted on 10/12/18 | 2:51 PM CET

F Bloggs

Didn’t the ROI already break the GFA by supporting the EU’s plans to acquire NI?

Posted on 10/12/18 | 7:03 PM CET

Sean Hanley

Hillary is quite the brave. She has been completely silent about Saudi Arabia hacking to death Washington Post reporter Khashoggi, while taking millions from the Saudis for the Clinton Foundation… but of course she can comment on Brexit. A true heroine!